Two-time Oscar winner Ang Lee is looking for his next challenge and just found it. He will direct Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk for Sony Pictures and Studio 8.
The project was finalized late last month, the Hollywood Reporter confirmed at the time. Halftime Walk will be produced by Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8, the Sony TriStar banner and the U.K.’s Film4. Sony Pictures will have worldwide distribution, while Film4 gets U.K. TV rights.
Individual producers include Marc Platt, Stephen Cornwell of Ink Factory, Rhodri Thomas, Simon Cornwell and Lee. The first screenplay draft was written by Simon Beaufoy, with revisions by Jean-Christopher Castelli.
Ben Fountain’s book, which made the 2012 National Book Award shortlist, is about a young private who who survives a battle in Iraq. He and his company are made national heroes and have to attend a tribute during a Thanksgiving Day football game. His experiences in Iraq are told in flashbacks.
Deadline reports that Lee wants to use unknown actors for the lead role, with bigger names in supporting parts. Some of the candidates include Billy Howle, Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Joe Cole and Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction).
Lee does plan on making the film in native 3D. He won an Oscar for directing Life of Pi, which was also shot in 3D. He’s planning on using the Sony F65 to also shoot it in a higher frame rate.
Lee won his first directing Oscar for Brokeback Mountain. This will be his first project since Pi, so it looks like Cleopatra isn’t happening and the 3D boxing film will have to wait.
image courtesy of Karl Larsen/INFphoto.com